Electric railway



(No Model.)

B. M. HUNTER. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 480,850. Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

FIG. 2.

FIG.3

I lnm m,

Xnvenhar TH: NORRKS PETERS cm, imam-mac wAsmNawm n4 v:v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY,

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,850, dated August16, 1892.

Application filed May 28, 1887. Serial No. 239,621. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER,

of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Improvement in Electric Railways, of which the following isa specification.

My invention has reference to electric rail ways; and it consists incertain improvements,

all of which are fully set forth in the following 1o specification andshown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide means for supplying theelectric current from a surface conductor, which shall be cut out ofcircuit except as the vehicle is passing over ductor, which may beburied, suspended. or

otherwise arranged along the roadway. The connection between thesupply-conductor and working conductor is made and broken by amagnetically-actuated switch actuated only upon the passing of anelectrically-propelled o vehicle. To operate these switches, the vehicleis provided with a magneteithe r a permanent magnet, electro-magnet, orsimply an electro-helixwhich is arranged close to the line of theswitches, and as the vehicle passes 3 5 above a switch it is attractedby said magnet and operates to put the working conductor into circuitwith the supply-conductor.- As soon as the vehicle passes themagneticallyoperated switch falls back and opens the cir- 4o cuit. Theswitches are inclosed in tight cases or compartments, so as to be out ofdanger of dust, dirt, &c., and may be actuated through their surroundingcasing.

There are a large number of details which are explained hereinafter.

I wish it to be understood that while the invention is especiallyapplicable to surface street-car propulsion in thickly populated citiesit is equally applicable to elevated roads or toconstructions in whichthe circuits are in part or all elevated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a car andstructure embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views showingtwo methods of coupling up the rails or conductors as return-circuitsand illustrates the complete circuit of the railway. Fig. at is across-section of the supply and working conductors, the switch, andtheir inclosing case and support, and also shows the end view of themagnet carried by the car or vehicle. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing amodified form of magnet on the car. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation showing a modification of switch devices for putting theworking conductor into and out ofcircuit. Fig. 7 is a diagram showingthe circuits, switches, &c., when two sectional working conductors an dtwo supply-conductors are used; and Fig. 8 is a similar view to that ofFigs. 4c and 5, showing the use of the motor as the switchoperatingmagnet.

A is the vehicle, and is supported on the axles b by springs O orotherwise.

B are the wheels.

D is the motor, and is shown as supported by the axle and the motor ortruck frame a. A pinion on the motor-shaft meshes with a spur-wheel B onthe axle. Arranged in the track between the rails or otherwise is asectional working conductor E, having each section insulated from thenext. v E is the supply-conductor, and connects with the sections ofworking conductor by branch circuits e and magnetically-actuatedswitches E, which may open by gravity or by a spring.

The vehicle is provided with a magnet G, preferably made long, and hungby links g from the axles, whereby it is supported close abovetheworking conductor E and over the line of the switches F. If themagnet were to strike an obstruction, it would swing back and-rise up topass over it, and thus avoid breakage. The collectors H are preferablycarried by the magnet G, and would then ride up with it in case ofobstruction. As shown, the magnet is about the length of the sections ofthe working conductor, and the two collectors H of similar current arearranged at a distance apart about equal to the length of the section,also.

I is the motor-circuit, and connects with the collectors H, supplyingcurrent through the motor D and then connecting with thereturn-conductor through the wheels of the vehicle or otherwise. Themotor-circuit may be broken by a switch 1' and may be provided with aresistance-changer J. The motor may have a current-reverser for thearmature and a resistance-changerK for the field-magnets.

1 is a lighting-circuit on the car, having the electric lamps I and aresistance-changer I to control the current flowing over said circuit,and said circuit is arranged in shunt relation with the motor. Themagnet G may be a permanent magnet or an electro-magnet. In Figs. 1, 4,and 8 it is shown as an electromagnet. The helix G of thisswitch-operating magnet is in a circuit 1, which is arranged in shuntrelation to the motor and is provided with the circuit-breaker z" andresistancechanger L to vary the strength of the magnet. This magnet Gmay be simply a straight magnet or may be like a horseshoe, (see Fig.

5,) in which latter case the northand south poles would come closetogether over the conductorE and switch F. By means of theresistance-changers J, K, L, and I the currents flowing over the variouscircuits on the car or vehicle can be regulated.

If the conductor-sections E are made of iron or magnetizable metal, thenthe magnets G need not be so long, as the'sections E will be magnetizedso long as the magnet G is above any portion of them, and thismagnetized conductor will in turn attract the switches and cause them toputtheconductor-sections in circuit as the car passes over them.

The switches F are arranged in a tight case or compartment M, and whenraised may press against the spring-contact f, connecting with theconductor E. The switch F may be formed of any material of good conductivity and may have a flat or horseshoe part F of magnetizablematerial, either of soft iron or magnetized steel, being a simplepivoted or hinged lever, or it may be somewhat more complicated, asshown in Fig. 6. In this construction we have the main switch F, adaptedto close the branch e and connect the supplyconductor E with the workingconductor E. This switch F is operated by acore n, which works in ahelix N. This helizois in an open circuit Q, which may be closed {by acircuitcloser O, actuated by the magnet on the car, which attracts thepart F, as before. When the circuit is closed, the current passes fromone supply-conductor E, through helix N, to

the other supply or the return conductor and makes a strong positivecontact between the supply-conductor and working conductor. If desired,the magnet F maybe made strongly magnetic byahelix P, fitted around itand in a closed shunt-circuitp of high resistance,

and this helix, if positively secured to the part F, may be properlycounterbalanced. There are a large number of kinds of circuitclosers orswitches which could be used. HenceI do not limit myself to anyparticular kind, so long as it shall operate directly or indirectly by amagnet carried by the traveling vehicle.

The magnet G may consist simply of the helix without the core, and suchhelix would act in the same manner as if a core were used, butnot sostrongly.

The magnet G, whatever be its construction, may actdirectly upon theswitches For by induction. It may magnetize the conductor E, and they inturn, assisted by the magnet, will act upon the switches. In place ofusing an additional magnet G, the motor field-magnets may be utilizedfor that purpose with good effect. Such a construction is illustrated inFig. 8.

The supply-conductor E may be embedded in the earth or in a closedtrough or may be supported on posts or in any convenient manner,provided that it is well insulated.

In Fig. 7 all of the foregoing parts are duplicated, showing theoutgoing and return working conductors in sections and the switches Fwith horseshoe-magnets F. If desired, the conductor E may be made in twoparallel bars, as indicated in Fig. 5, so that they will becomepolarized to correspond to the north and south of the magnet G, and thiswill increase the effect on the magnet F of the switch.

Hinged to the vehicle, ormore preferably to the motor frame or truck, isa cleaningbrush R, which is pressed against the conductor E by a springor by its own weight to keep the conductors clean.

If desired, the rails may be used as the return-conductor, in which casetheywould. be coupled, as shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3. In Fig. 2 the railsare connected at the distant end, and then the near end of one of therails is connected with one pole of the generator, the other pole ofwhich is connected with the supply-conductor E. In Fig. 3 both rails arecoupled by their near ends to the generator. In Fig. 2 theline-resistance from generator through motor and return is the same forall positions of the motor on the line. In Figs. 2 and 3, L may beconsidered the rails or separate return-conductors. It is also evidentthat the working conductor E might be one of the rails divided intosections, and the returnconductor would be the other rail, these detailsbeing mere matters of judgment and comprehended in the broad scope of myinvention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecu re by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a working conductor arranged parallel to therailway, a supplyconductor, a magnetically-actuated switch to connect ordisconnect said supply and working conductor, a traveling vehicle, amotor to propel said vehicle, receiving electricity from said workingconductor, and a magnet carried by said vehicle, having its north and'south poles brought close together in close proximity to themagnetically-actuated switch.

2. The combination of a working conductor arranged parallel to therailway and made of magnetic material, a supplyconductor, amagnetically-actuated switch to connect or disconnect said supply andworking conductor, arranged close to said working conductor, a travelingvehicle, a motor to propel said vehicle, receiving electricity from saidworking conductor, and a magnet carried by said vehicle, having itsnorth and south poles brought close together in close proximity to theworking conductor magnetically-actuated switch.

3. The combination of a Working conductor arranged parallel to therailway, a supplyconductor, a magnetically-actuated switch to connect ordisconnect said supply and working conductor, a traveling vehicle, amotor to propel said vehicle, receiving electricity from said workingconductor, and an electro-magnet carried by said vehicle, having itsnorth and south poles brought close together in close proximity to themagnetically-actuated switch.

4. The combination of a working conductor arranged parallel to therailway, a supply-conductor, a magnetically-actuated switch to connector disconnect said supply and working conductor,a traveling vehicle,amotor to propel said vehicle, receiving electricity from said workingconductor, an electro-magnet carried by said vehicle, having its northand south poles brought close together in close proximity to themagnetically actuated switch, and means to vary the power of saidelectro-magnet.

5. In an electric railway, a working conductor arranged along therailway, a supplyconductor parallel thereto, magnetic switches toconnect and disconnect said working conductor with the supply-conductor,a traveling vehicle, a magnet on said vehicle to automatically operatesaid switches as a vehicle passes over them, and a connection betweensaid magnet and axle or axles of the vehicle, capable of longitudinalmovement, whereby the magnet will remain at a substantially fixeddistance from the ground,but may easily ride over an obstruction.

6. The combination of a vehicle, a longitudinal collector-frame hung byparallel links from the axles and capable of longitudinal motion,current-collecting devices carried by said frame, and a workingconductor over which said collecting devices travel.

7. In an electric railway, a working conductor arranged along therailway, a supplyconductor parallel thereto, magnetic switches toconnect and disconnect said working conductor with the supply-conductor,a traveling vehicle, a magnet on said vehicle to automatically operatesaid switches as avehicle passes over them, and a cleaning-brush restingupon the working conductor and connected to the vehicle.

8. In an electric railway, a working conductor arranged along therailway, a supplyconductor parallel thereto, magnetic switches toconnect and disconnect said working conductor with the supply-conductor,a traveling vehicle, a magnet on said vehicle to automatically operatesaid switches asa vehicle passes over them, and a hinged cleaning-brushresting upon the working conductor and connected to the vehicle, andmeans to press it upon said working conductor.

9. The combination of a sectional working conductor, a supply-conductor,magneticallyaotuated switches connecting said supply and workingconductor sections, an electricallypropelled vehicle receiving currentfrom said working conductor, means, substantially as described, carriedby the vehicle to actuate said switches when the vehicle passes abovethem, the return-conductor, and an electric generator having its polesconnected, respectively, to the supply and return conductor, but toopposite ends thereof, whereby the resistance from the generator throughthe motor and return is substantially the same for all positions of themotor on the line.

10. The combination of an exposed sectional working conductor, aninsulated supply-conductor, magnetically-actuated switches tointermittently connect the supply-conductor with the sections of theworking conductor, an electricallypropelled vehicle receiving currentfrom said working conductor, a magnetizing helix carried by the vehicleand arranged within magnetizing distance of the switches, and acollecting device carried by the vehicle and making contact with theworking conductor within the range of influence of the helix.

11. The combination of positive and negative line or supply conductors,a branch circuit between them, a switch to break said circuit, anelectro-magnet in said circuit, a working conductor, a switch actuatedby said magnet to connect or disconnect said working conductor with oneof the line or supply conductors, a magnetically-actuated switch toclose said branch circuit, a traveling vehicle, and means, substantiallyas described, carried by said vehicle to operate saidmagnetically-operated switch.

12. The combination of positive and negative line or supply conductors,a branch circuit between them, a switch to break said circuit, anelectro-magnet in said circuit, a working conductor, a switch actuatedby said magnet to connect or disconnect said working conductor with oneof the line or supply conductors, a magnetically-actuated switch toclose said branch circuit, a closed circuit including a helix to keepsaid switch magnetized, a traveling vehicle,and means, substantially asdescribed, carried by said Vehicle to operate said magnetically-operatedswitch.

13. The combination of avvehicle, an electhe motor and switch-actuatingelcctro-magtric motor to propel the same, the line-switchnet and also tothe electric-light circuit. 10 actuating eleetro-magnet, a, source ofelectric In testimonyof which invention I hereuntosupply,amotor-circuit, a shunt-circuit around set my hand.

5 the motor and including the switch-actuating RUDOLPH M. HUNTER.

eiectro-magnet, an electric-light circuit in Witnesses: shunt relationwith the motor, and independ- RICHD. S. CHILD, J12,

ent means to regulate the current passing to E. M. BRECKINREED.

